View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
roelf Veteran Member
Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 167 Location: Texas
|
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject: pocket trumpet |
|
|
I want to get one. Any recommendations? _________________ Roel Flores
http://www.StarLineWebdesign.com |
|
Back to top |
|
|
trpthrld Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 4815
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
silverhorn Heavyweight Member
Joined: 08 Jan 2003 Posts: 682
|
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: pocket trumpet |
|
|
roelf wrote: | I want to get one. Any recommendations? |
I have an LA Horns pocket trumpet and it plays great. Although they are no longer made, you may still be able to find a used one in good condition. It has a full sized bell and comes in a variety of awesome colors. Mine is black cherry burst! lol |
|
Back to top |
|
|
roelf Veteran Member
Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 167 Location: Texas
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
James B. Quick Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 2067 Location: La Crosse, WI
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Hipster Veteran Member
Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 136
|
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 6:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
Andy Taylor has a new line of Pocket Trumpets available now as well. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Wes Clarke Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 846 Location: Athens, GA
|
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 6:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
I also have the Kanstul pocket trumpet. I know, I know, it's not listed below in my tag line. Still, I've had mine for a couple of years and it is my favorite horn to play. I'm not kidding. Although I don't use it for community band, I easily could. I got mine from Lee Walkowich at Washington Music Center when I was in DC for a meeting two years ago. I played a Jupiter, LA Sax, and one other they had at the time. The Kanstul was worth the price difference. _________________ "Mary, is the twelfth George Washington's birthday or is it mine?"
A. Lincoln
Snapper
Troy Bilt
Poulan |
|
Back to top |
|
|
timoshev Regular Member
Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 96 Location: Anaheim, CA
|
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 11:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
I acquired a used pocket trumpet, marked only as Classic 800, many years ago. And yup, the valves quickly corroded between infrequent uses--until I tried some BiNak valve oil. It's not my regular oil, but it has something in it that stops corrosion cold. Perfect to keep cheap valves alive. Oh, BTW, anyone know who made my horn? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bill Blackwell Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Nov 2008 Posts: 1020 Location: Southern CA
|
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: pocket trumpet |
|
|
roelf wrote: | I want to get one. Any recommendations? |
I did some research about a year ago on pockets. What I found was many are very similar to one another, but allot of them are junk. Buyer beware…
Among the better pockets are listed below in price order from lowest to highest – Every pocket below (except the Jupiter) has a full-size bell.
1. Jupiter pockets (Taiwan) - ~$600 probably worth the price, but not a penny more;
2. Carol pockets (Taiwan) - ~$600 said to be quite good for the price;
3. Marcato (~$750), Pocket Max (~$650), LA Sax (~$550) all made in the same - probably Taiwan - factory and share the same design features (they look identical);
4. Calicchio pocket - north of $1,000 (USA - hard to come by, but a great pocket);
5. Benge pocket - ~$1,450 (USA - any vintage - but my top choice would be the rare CG Pocket - very few were made);
6. Kanstul - ~$1,700 (USA);
7. Taylor Pocket Rocket - ~$2,500 (UK - as good as a pocket gets, but they're expensive). Do a Google search – folks rave about them.
Amati makes one within the lower price range (~$700), but reviews are very mixed - I would stay away. _________________ Bill Blackwell
Founder - Sons of Thunder Big Band Machine
Wild Thing Bb - Copper
Wild Thing Flugelhorn - Copper
Wild Thing Short-Model Cornet - Copper
The future ain't what it used to be. ...
- Yogi Berra |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dick S Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 511 Location: Temecula, CA
|
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 1:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
trpthrld wrote: | Kanstul. They're worth the price. |
DITTO _________________ Dick S
Temecula, CA
Holton "Don Ellis" Quarter tone |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rebelatheart Veteran Member
Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 480 Location: Richmond, VA
|
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 1:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Stop the press. If price is an issue, DO NOT overlook the Van Cleave pocket which is available from Dillon's for under $400. I've never played one of the high dollar horns (Kanstul, Benge), but I can say that the Van Cleave is head and shoulders above the Jupiter, which many people recommend. _________________ "Daddy, this piccolo makes me want to cuss." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
etc-etc Heavyweight Member
Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 6200
|
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 3:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The intonation and sound of the Jupiter pockets that I had tried were on the cheap side. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rebelatheart Veteran Member
Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 480 Location: Richmond, VA
|
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That was my experience exactly. Trying to play a simple scale, the Jupiter was all over the place. _________________ "Daddy, this piccolo makes me want to cuss." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
lmf Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 2190 Location: Indiana USA
|
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I suppose it depends upon your use of the pocket trumpet?
If you plan on it being "only a novelty horn" and don't much care about intonation and workmanship - you may go with the cheaper horns trying to find the better of the cheaper ones.
If you want a pocket trumpet that sounds "as good" as quality larger trumpets, you would do better going with Kanstul or the other more expensive brands listed. Otherwise, the intotation and quality issues of the cheaper horns will drive you up the wall. They may sound so bad that they will drive others up the wall.
As a player, you have to know what you are looking for in a pocket trumpet and how seriously you plan to use itt? A novelty item where quality doesn't matter by all mean go with the cheaper pocket trumpet seeking the best of the cheap. A novelty item that can match the "big trumpets" will cost you as much as the big boys.
Only you can decide how you are going to use it and purchase accordingly. If cheap is all you can afford (and that is similar to some of us us here), then buy the better of the cheaper brands based upon what you are reading from other TH folks. But, don't think cheaper pocket trumpets will compare with Kanstul, Taylor and so forth. They aren't in the same league and they aren't in the same price range either. They are not the same! I suspect the better workmanship and intonation of the more expensive makers make the pocket trumpet a more serious contender.
I play a cheap pocket trumpet for its "novelty effect" on occasion, but I'm sure anyone in the audience who a good musician will sense the intonation will be found wanting. I don't stack it up to the other horns I have. It's good for a smile or laugh from the audience, but I suspect the poor intonation doesn't go unnoticed even by non-musicians unless they are tone deaf. Maybe that is all your are planning to use a pocket trumpet for. If so, look for the best of the cheaper pocket trumpets.
Best wishes,
Lloyd |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Wes Clarke Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 846 Location: Athens, GA
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 6:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: | The intonation and sound of the Jupiter pockets that I had tried were on the cheap side. |
Quote: | That was my experience exactly. Trying to play a simple scale, the Jupiter was all over the place. |
Any time I'm playing a new horn, but especially one that I am considering to purchase, I play scales. When I played the pocket trumpets at WMC I didn't have a tuner with me, but playing through the major scales was instructive. The Kanstul's intonation was very nice through all of them with only the usual adjustments. Not so for the others. _________________ "Mary, is the twelfth George Washington's birthday or is it mine?"
A. Lincoln
Snapper
Troy Bilt
Poulan |
|
Back to top |
|
|
TrentAustin Heavyweight Member
Joined: 06 Nov 2002 Posts: 5485 Location: KC MO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
KanstulBrass Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 714 Location: California
|
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
For a player who is serious about a performance-quality travel trumpet, the Kanstul Model 905 is an excellent choice. The Kanstul has a one piece hand-hammered bell equivalent to a 5X, with a 4˝" diameter, giving it a full rich sound with excellent intonation. It is built around a .460" bore professional valve section, and has an open blow and excellent response. It has a first slide saddle and third slide ring - features expected on professional instruments. This is no novelty horn, and the great Don Cherry played a Kanstul pocket trumpet in his later years.
regards, _________________ Charles G Hargett
Brass Industry Consultant
(Kanstul, Shires, BAC, Benge) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Oncewasaplayer Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 974
|
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
Those pocket trumpets looks so darn cute! Yet, the majority of them do not play all that well. You'll struggle with intonation and sound unless you're ready to move into the higher end in terms of pricing.
Now some folks want these to take on the road for practicing in their hotel rooms. And in many cases, your practice mute won't fit these small bells. Wayne Bergeron says he has a pocket trumpet for warming up in the car while he's driving to gigs. (Must sound like a police siren at times!)
If you just want to have a practice horn for practicing, then pick up a cornet instead. The Olds Ambassador cornets are bargains. Cheap and virtually indestructible. Easily carried on planes. (Take the advice of Trent Austin--good to great vintage cornets are available at affordable prices.)
If the pocket trumpet is for performing, then understand that you'll get what you pay for. _________________ Getzen 800DLX cornet
Selmer Sigma trumpet |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bike&ed Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Posts: 1837
|
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 10:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
rebelatheart wrote: | Stop the press. If price is an issue, DO NOT overlook the Van Cleave pocket which is available from Dillon's for under $400. I've never played one of the high dollar horns (Kanstul, Benge), but I can say that the Van Cleave is head and shoulders above the Jupiter, which many people recommend. |
For sure! I just sold one on ebay, it was by far the sweetest pocket trumpet for the money I'd ever encountered. If only I was hiking the Appalachian trail sometime soon I would have kept it... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rick Heavyweight Member
Joined: 10 Feb 2002 Posts: 535 Location: Central Pennsylvania
|
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 10:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'll be putting my fourth generation Carol in the marketplace soon. Check if you're interested or pm.
--Rick _________________ Flugelhorn
Hollywood Calicchio flugelhorn |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|